Survey of Toxoplasma Gondii in Livestocks’ Meat (Sheep, Goat, Camel), Using Nested PCR Method in Sabzavar District

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic zoonosis in the world which led to loss of life and property in the countries annually. Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan disease. It is estimated that about a third of the world's population are infected with the parasite. Parasites is transmitted in various ways such as contaminated water containing oocytes shed of cats, eating undercooked or raw meat or through congenital infection. This study was conducted in Sabzevar, in which a sample of animals in slaughters in Sabzevar were selected including livestock such as sheep, goats, camels, which were collected and investigated for toxoplasmosis. In this study, DNA of these samples (heart and diaphragm) including 40 sheep, 40 goats, 40 camels were collected and then were examined using B1 marker. The PCR results showed  60% of sheep infected to toxoplasmosis and infection rate in diaphragm and heart samples were 37.5% and 25.5%. Also frequency rate for toxoplasma in goat and camels were obtained 52.5% and 65% and infectivity rate of diaphragm and heart were 35% and 17.5% for goat, 45% and 20% for camels samples. The results showed that infectivity rate of toxoplasmosis in sheep and goats in Sabzavar is more dangerous than other cities. It seems that infection rate was influenced by examination tests, ecological condition, way of growth and feeding and agony of livestock and others factors. Toxoplasmosis were seen more in female sheep. We did not obtain any difference for infectivity in goat and camel gender and related to growing factors. In this study, toxoplasmosis was reported in camels of Iran for first time. The RFLP results showed genotypes of II and III for toxoplasma and it needs to modified studies in this field.